Signal mechanism.



No. 705,584. Patented July 29, |902.

R. HERMAN.

SIGNAL MEcHANlsm.

(Applictipn med oct. 25, 1901.) A (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

./rngys -1 Patented my 29, |902'. R. HERMAN. SIGNALMECHANISM (Application led Oct. 25, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. u

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn;

REINHOLD HERMAN, OF CROFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,584, dated July 29, 1902. Application flied october 25,1901. sentira. 79,977. (No modi-,1.)

To LZ whom t mttyvcoltoorlc:

Be it known that I, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Crofton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,` have invented r certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Mechanism, of which the following isa specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanyingdrawings. n

This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovementsinsignalingmechanism,` and relates particularly to that class of signals employing track-circuits controlled by train movements for actuating the signal-operating mechanism to automatically move the signal from clear to caution or cantion to clear and danger positions.

`The present invention relates to an irnprovement in the operating mechanism and-i is applied to such operating mechanism as isA shown in my Patent N o. 683,397, dated September 24, 1901, andin order to clearly illustrate my invention I have shown a form ofsignal-operating mechanism such as is shown and described in theabove-mentioned patent.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the Inode of operating the signal; and it consists in employing, in connection with the mechanism such as shown in my Patent N0.`683,397, a toothed sector in connection with a rack-bar to be engaged by l said sector, the rack-bar-beingiadjustably connected to an operating-rod which extends through the hollow support (not shown) for the signal and connects tothe latter. In-

l stead of employing a yoke, as. in my prior patent, and connecting this yoke to the signal-rod and tothe sector andinstead of having the lock-magnets actuate the mechanism to engage directly with the sector to lock the signal in its respective positions I employ the rack-bar and lock directly into this rack-bar,

the latter being arranged to move vertically in suitable rollers, which act as guides therefor.

The various parts employed in this improvement will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing theinvention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereerating mechanism such as described in detail in my Patent No. 683,397, showing my present improvementsapplied in position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe same. Fig.

3 is a detail front elevation of the rack-bar.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional View of one of the guide-rollers for the rack-bar, showing a part of the shaft upon which the roller is mounted'. i

. As heretofore stated, the present apparatus is adapted tobe employed in connection with track-circuits such as are shown in my Patent No. 683,"397,'and `in the present illustration of The clutch-magnets 2', which engage the drive-wheel 3 when themotor 4 is energized to cause the drive-shaft to operate the sector l and like parts of the mechanism, have been fully shown and'described in my former patent". The standards of the operating mechanism are provided at their upper ends with `brackets 6, and in these brackets is mounted a shaft 7 This shaft 7' has arranged thereon a guide-roller 8, which is held against eudwise movement in any suitable manner, a preferable construction beingby mounting collars 9 on the shaft at each end of the roller andsecuring the same by the Cotter-pins 10. --Each of the standards 5 is also providedwith brackets l1, which project outwardlyfrom the rear edge of the standards and have mounted therein a shaft l2, which has mounted thereon a roller 8, the same as the roller at the upper end of the mechanism. The rack- IOO bar 4 is adapted to be connected to the rod 14, which is connected to the signal. (Not shown.) rIihis connection is preferably a pivotal one, being made by means of a yoke 15 and pin 16, the latter passing through the rack-bar 4 near its upper end. The yoke carries a threaded stud 17, which engages into the sleeve 18, the upper end of said sleeve receiving the lower threaded end ot'v the rod 14. This sleeve, together with the threads on the studs 17 on the end of the rod 14, is made right and left hand, so as to permit the adjustment to regulate the throw of the signalarm in a manner well known in the art. The rack-bar 4 is provided with notches 19, suitably positioned to receive the locking-block 2O of the toggle mechanism 21, this toggle mechanism being operated by the lock-magnets 22, which are mounted in a frame or bracket connected to the bridge-plate 22 in a manner as has been fully described in my prior patent and pending applications. I have shown the bar 4 as provided with but two notches 19, the one for locking the signal in the clear position (the position shown) andl the other notch to receive the locking-block for holding the signal in the caution position, the signal being automatically held in the danger position, though, ot' course, it will be observed that where desired the bar may be provided with an additional notch for locking the signal in the danger position, or it may be provided with as many notches as it may be desired to lock the signal in the different positions. Upon the mechanism beingr actuated by the lenergizing of the motor and the lock-magnets being denergized, so as to release the locking-block, the sector in its movement elevates the rack-bar 4, so as to shift the signal to the caution or danger position, as the case may be, this rack-bar being guided by the rollers 7, and the pivotal connection between the rack-bar and the operating-rod 14 obviating any danger of the bending of the rod.

Having fully described. my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y 1. In electrically-operated signals, the combination with a pair of supporting-standards, a drive-shaft journaled therein, and a toothed sector carried by the drive-shaft, of a rackbar engaged by the sector and operated thereby in a vertical line, a signal-operating rod to which the upper end of the rack-bar is attached, and a lock for engagement with the rack-bar to hold the same in the position to which it is moved by the sector, substantially as described.

2. In electrically-operated signals, the combination with a drive-shaft, and a toothed sector carried by the drive-shaft, of a signaloperating rod, a vertically-disposed rack-bar connected to the signal-operating rod and in continuous engagement with the sector, said sector when actuated moving said rack-bar and signal-operating rod in a'vertical line, and means for direct locking engagement with the rack-bar to hold the latter and the signaloperating rod in the position to which they have been moved, substantially as described.

3. In signals, the combination with the supporting-standards, a drive-shaft journaled therein, and a toothed sector carried by said drive-shaft, of a signal-operating rod, a vertically-disposed rack-bar attached at its upper end to said rod and having notches in its rear face, said rackbar in continuous engagement with the sector and moved thereby in a Vertical line, means for guiding said rackbar in its vertical movement, and a locking device for engagement with the notches in the rear face of said bar to hold the same in the position to which it has been shifted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftlx my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

REINI-IOLD HERMAN. Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, A. M. WILSON. 

